March 6, 2009
Box Score
URBANA, Ill. - The seventh-ranked Illinois men's tennis team won its seventh match in a row this evening, edging out the No. 44 Northwestern Wildcats, 4-3, in a Big Ten conference showdown at the Atkins Tennis Center. It was the play of the Illinois seniors that pulled them through tonight as senior Brian Livingston took a dominant straight sets victory at No. 6 singles for the Illini, while fellow senior Marc Spicijaric provided the match clinching win for the Orange and Blue at No. 1 singles.
"I thought we came out energized in doubles tonight and that helped us early on," head coach Brad Dancer said. "Give credit to Brian Livingston this evening. He came out focused and stayed concentrated throughout his match in singles. However, as a team we need to do a better job of maintaining our focus and intensity level throughout the match."
With the win, the Illini improve to 12-3 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten on the season, while the Wildcats fall to 11-3 and 0-1 in the conference.
In doubles, the Illini swept all matches for an early 1-0 advantage heading into singles. At No. 2 doubles the No.41-ranked Illini duo of senior Marc Spicijaric and junior Marek Czerwinski proved to be too much for the No.80 ranked Northwestern tandem of Alex Sanborn/Joshua Graves, as the Illini cruised to an 8-1 win. The Orange and Blue clinched the doubles point as the tandem of senior Brian Livingston and freshman Dennis Nevolo edged out the Wildcats' Alex Thams and Andrew McCarthy, 8-6, at No. 3 doubles. With the point decided, the two teams played out a tiebreaker at No. 1 doubles with the Illini duo of junior Billy Heiser and freshman Ruan Roelofse taking the match 8-7 (4).
In singles, Livingston wasted little time in taking down the Wildcats' Eric Spector at No. 6 singles. The Skokie, Ill., native easily took the first set 6-2, then cruised through the second set 6-0, for the win. Next on the board for the Illini was junior Marek Czerwinski at No. 3 singles. The 101-ranked Czerwinski battled his way to a straight sets victory at No. 3 singles, 7-5, 6-2, over Northwestern's Alexander Thams.
Senior Marc Spicijaric, currently ranked No. 55 in singles, clinched the Illini's second straight Big Ten win, with an impressive 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 1 singles over the Wildcats' Marc Dwyer. With the win, Spicijaric is now 8-3 in dual matches this season.
The Wildcats closed out the match with wins at Nos. 5, 2, and 4, respectively.
Illinois next returns to the courts tomorrow, March 7, against No. 19 Wisconsin at the Atkins Tennis Center. First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT.
Match Results
Northwestern vs University of Illinois
3/6/2009 at Urbana, Ill.
(Atkins Tennis Center)
#7 University of Illinois 4, #44 Northwestern 3
Singles competition
1. #55 Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Marc Dwyer (NU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Tobias Reitz (NU) def. #29 Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
3. #101 Marek Czerwinski (ILL) def. Alexander Thams (NU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Joshua Graves (NU) def. Billy Heiser (ILL) 6-1, 1-6, 6-2
5. Alex Sanborn (NU) def. Abe Souza (ILL) 6-3, 6-4
6. Brian Livingston (ILL) def. Eric Spector (NU) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Billy Heiser/Ruan Roelofse (ILL) def. Marc Dwyer/Tobias Reitz (NU) 8-7 (7-4)
2. #41 Marek Czerwinski/Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. #80 Alex Sanborn/Joshua Graves (NU) 8-2
3. Brian Livingston/Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. #80 Alexander Thams/Andrew McCarthy (NU) 8-6
Match Notes:
Northwestern 11-3, 0-1; National ranking #44
University of Illinois 12-3, 2-0; National ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,3,1,5,2,4)
